Week beginning 10th March

 

Virtual Lent 4. March2024

The God of  Abraham Praise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKAIWQpbSH8

Gods blessed Abram in the book of Genesis chapter 12: 1 – 3.

1 The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.2 ‘I will make you into a great nation,  and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,  and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you,
 and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Jesus blesses in many ways,

Jesus blesses children.

Suffer the children to come unto me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XGpPDNQwPA

Mark 10: 13 – 16

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

I think when I read that sweet story of old

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evqbqZoqX7k

Prayer

Lord Jesus please place you loving hands on my head that I to may feel you love for

I am not worthy to be in your presence, but I come to you as a child, Lord have Mercy, forgive my failings, bless me that I may know you have forgiven me, fill me now with your peace. Amen

The next blessing to look at is of Jesus blessing food and a miracle that happened.

When Jesus feed the 5000 with a few a few fish and bread rolls He held the food up and asked God to bless it, the usual prayer said over food was and still is; Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. It then feed thousands. His prayer was answered by God. What fantastic power Christ had and still has to this day and days to come. You will find this in Luke 9: 12 -17

Five little loaves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O6L0RcL-ek

There are many prayers said over meals you may recall prayers said when you were young this is the one I sang from the age of two

Thank you for the world so sweet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsGEzbfHxuQ

the other being: “For what we are about to receive Lord make us truly grateful”. Amen

You may know others, it is always good to ask God to bless our meals that we may never take them for granted.

The next blessing of Jesus was at the last supper Matthew 26:26-29 Amplified Bible,

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread and, praising God, gave thanks and asked Him to bless it to their use, and when He had broken it, He gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body. 27 And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, 28 for this is My blood of the new covenant, For which ratifies the agreement and is being poured out

 for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I say to you, I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it with you new and  of superior quality in My Father’s kingdom.

I hunger and I thirst

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kqjwJ1bnAA

prayer

Holy Spirit enter our hearts and guide us in thoughts as we turn to prayer

Heavenly Father Place in our hearts the desire to make a difference
to our families, to our community, to our country,
and to the many cultures and peoples worldwide.
Give us balance in times of distraction and uncertainty.
Help us move towards our goals with determination
and always with an abundant sense of humour.

Guide us to do your will.
Thank you for the abundance food. May it reach those who know only hunger;

Please bless the food we are going to eat today, thank you for the producers.
Thank you For friends, may friendships reach those who know only loneliness.
May our faith in you spread to those who only know fear;
Jesus bless those who feel unloved may your love fill them with peace

Jesus bless those who are ill in mind, body, and spirit, fill them with you healing love

Jesus for those who we know and worry over we bring them to you now ….pause …………

Glory be to you O God bring peace to peoples . We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for yours is the glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father pour your spirit into our lives; may we feel the peace of your presence.

Lord, living God grant to us your wisdom and courage in our Christian witness.

Lord, Loving God may we not anger you, nor bring you shame, may we never use your name in vain. May we never fail others or fail you. Keep us free from evil. Grant us wisdom and courage to ever serve you our only living Loving heavenly Lord God in your love and mercy hear these our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen

The last earthy blessing of Christ was on His disciples at His ascension. Luke 24: 45- 52

45 Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, ‘This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

Fanny Crosby wrote this closing hymn she had been blind for a long time and the first face she wanted to see was that of her saviour.

The disciples too where left praising their savour after He had blessed them. When Jesus left them, this time they were not sad in heart, but filled with great joy.

Blessed Assurance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WQdwkCdXpU

the priestly blessing from Numbers 6: 24 -26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen

Week beginning 3rd March

 

Virtual Lent 3. March2024

We continue to look at the Prayers of Christ Jesus the theme for this week is the Lords Prayer. For continuity some of the prayers will be repeated from previous Sundays

Hymn ‘Prayer is the souls sincere desire’,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IEeLxrqJfk

Prayer  

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father, pour your spirit into our lives; may we feel the peace of your presence.

Lord, living God grant to us your wisdom and courage in our Christian witness.

Lord, Loving God may we not anger you, nor bring you shame, may we never use your name in vain. May we never fail others or fail you keep us free from evil. Grant us wisdom and courage to ever serve you our only living, Loving heavenly Lord God. For we give you all Amen

There are many Prayers in the old testament. If you go to https://www.truthaccordingtoscripture.com/documents/prayers/prayers-old-testament.php

There is a list if you would like to spend time looking through them.

But the Lords prayer is the first time that God Almighty can be addressed as Father but not only Father but Our Father; Ours, therefore makes us brothers and sisters. Almighty God has become personal God.

Matthew 6:5-15 

Earthly Dads should be encouraging loving, Caring, Forgiving, listening, guiding. Some earthly Dads may have fallen far short or even been abusive. A friend once told me she thinks of God as her creator loving Father God this she found healing after a traumatic childhood.

How many times have you said the Lords prayer with out stopping to think about the words even saying it quickly. Or just part of the service.

Try taking each line as a prayer within its self take time to pause, a hymn or psalm may come to mind.

Our father who art in heaven. God Our Dad who resides in Heaven

Hallowed be they name. Holy sacred Blessed is the name of God

Thy Kingdom come. God’s kingdom is now is here

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. A declaration of willingness to do what is requested by God our Father .

Give us this day our daily bread Give food enough to not be so hungry having a need to steal which will defy God. Not so much that lives become conceited and fall into sin

think about the food /bread for nourishment , and food /Bread for spiritual growth

And forgive our trespasses laying before God all our wrongdoings. Nastiness. hurtful actions any thing that would offend Father God .asking God to accept our confession

As we forgive those who trespass against us. God will forgive wrongs in exactly the same way as we forgive those who have Offended us

Hymn ‘Forgive our sins as we forgive’,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21yuRm3buvs

Lead us not into temptation Asking God to give us strength to walk away from ensnarements first temptation in the garden of Eden when the serpent told eve to eat from the tree of knowledge in Genesis

But deliver us from evil /evil one. Satan first temptation in Eden. Satan’s temptation of Christ in the wilderness. Simon Peter’s temptation to deny knowing Jesus. Christ’s resurrection concurred Satan’s hold over death and gives hope of eternal life.

Hymn "The Lord's Prayer" Song - Our Father in Heaven 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i70XoA2ZxYQ

This where the prayer stops but in 1 Chronicles 29:11 New International Version

11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power   and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever amen

It is Good to give our Father God the all the glory for He is the one and only living God

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith: receive the prayers we offer. 
We pray for Christians throughout the World, especially where there is suffering, danger  and persecution; Lord,  hear our prayer.

We pray for all the peoples of the world and their leaders; countries in crisis; those countries where there are conflicts, Countries affected by acts of terrorism. Countries ruled by corrupt and brutal leaders, Countries where people are starving. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for own leaders, at both National and Local level, those who administer our laws; the emergency services, all those who work in hospitals, care homes and the medical profession, all those who are caring for people who need help and friendship in their lives, We pray for those who have responsibility for the welfare of others.

We pray for our local community, for those who are sick, those who are suffering, those who grieve. We pray for the distressed, the lonely, the homeless, the unloved, the unemployed, We pray for those in need of a friend, those wanting someone to reach out to them with a caring and loving hand. We commend to your keeping, Father, ourselves and each other, our families, our neighbours, and our friends. Enable us by your Spirit to live in love for you and for one another. Help us all to reflect your love in the way we treat other people, so that your love spreads throughout the world.   Amen

Hymn What a friend we have in Jesus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prthhmly0Gg

 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power   and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn His face toward you  and give you peace.”’

Week beginning 25th February

Hymn: Abba Father

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiVrwVV3Liw

Psalm 22

This psalm was written somewhere around 4^th century B.C.

Jesus knew the psalm as he was himself a Rabbi, He also knew that he had come to fulfill the scriptures so this psalm covered every thing he was feeling but also used it as part of prayer.

Each letter at the beginning of each word spells out Abba father

Take your time to pray over

Amazingly Beautiful. Blessed Almighty

Faithful. Alpha. Timeless. Holy. Eternal. Redeemer.

Father thank you that you love us and care for us teach us and train us. Father God we give you our praise, for we love you and want to learn from you, may your will be done Amen

Hymn: Father we love you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sXUltnS6n0

prayers

Heavenly, Abba, Father, your Son Jesus Christ has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith: receive the prayers we offer. 
We pray for Christians throughout the World, especially where there is suffering, danger  and persecution; Lord,  hear our prayer.

We pray for all the peoples of the world and their leaders; countries in crisis; those countries where there are conflicts, Countries affected by acts of terrorisation. Countries ruled by corrupt and brutal leaders, Countries where people are starving. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for leaders, at both National and Local level, those who administer our laws; we pray for the police and all emergency services. We pray for all those who work in hospitals, care homes. We pray for all those who are caring for people who need help and friendship in their lives, We pray for those who have responsibility for the welfare of others.

We pray for our local community, for those who are sick, those who are suffering in mind body or spirit,

we pray for all those known to us and those only known to you heavenly Father who are grieving…….. wrap you loving comforting arms around them .

We pray for the distressed, the lonely, the homeless, the unloved, the unemployed,

We pray for those in need of a friend, those wanting someone to reach out to them, may we be guided by your prompting,

Father God comfort those in need of comfort and inspire those feeling disheartened. Strengthen those who feel weak, Father we pray for our families, our neighbours, and our friends. We pray for our brothers and sisters through out the world those worshipping in freedom and those meeting in secret, those in chains and being tortured saying your son’s holy name and believing in you. Abba, Father, unite us through the power of Your Holy Spirit fill every heart with peace, as we say together the prayer that Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

In the gospel of Mark he records the desperation of Jesus. Christ knows what is to come.

But He wants to do His father’s (Daddy’s) will

Mark 14: 32 – 36

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’

Hymn Father God I wonder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMuvGb7KDE8

When St Paul wrote to the Church in Rome he addresses both men and women to be led by the Holy Spirit he also recognises the intimacy of God being Abba, Father taking on the words of Christ him self in using this title.

Romans 8: 12 – 17

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Poem. Abba, Daddy, Father

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/abba-daddy-father/

scroll down to find this beautiful thought provoking poem by Steve Gregory

In the dictionary; Abba, a title of reverence for bishops and patriarchs in the Coptic, Ethiopian Christian, and Syriac churches.

New Testament; an Aramaic word for father, used by Jesus and Paul to address God in a relation of personal intimacy.

At our Church on Tuesday evenings during lent we a looking Jesus and His prayers

and how to improve our own prayer times with God our heavenly Father last Tuesday we looked at God being called Daddy

What does the word daddy bring to mind. For some it is an infant word for dad for others it is loving closeness and Daddy is no different than dad.

My dear friend was abused by her earthly Dad so found it hard to call God Father. She spent a long time over this in prayer then one night and while she was sleeping she had a dream/revelation, God was walking with her in the country side and said to her “you see all this beauty around you I made that, I created you, I am your creator Father God.”

Abba as I said was Aramaic for father so Jesus was giving us a personal intimacy with God that no-one in the old testament had. The followers of Jesus wanted to understand how to pray to God as Jesus did so the Lords prayer starts with “Our Daddy”. But does that not seem disrespectful?

Preachers worship leaders even in our own prayers we may open our prayers with Holy God, Great Creator. O God. Lord and master, O most awesome. Almighty God. Only living God.

Of cause these are all the right way to come to God you may have your own words when you address or start your prayers. The last hymn you listened to used the words we are adopted into your family, you may like to listen to that song again after the benediction.

An adopted child is one who has grown in their mothers heart and not in the womb and a new baby grows in the heart of men. We too have been born from the heart of our Loving God there fore we can call him our Abba.

Lets take a closer look what is your image of the perfect earthly Dad? What are the things you would look for. Here are few things we came up with Loving, Caring, Patient, Protective, Provider, Encouraging, Listener, Approachable you may wish to add to this.

It is the way we address Abba, When we come before him with respect in reverence we use our words. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit becomes one of personal intimacy, for God covers every aspect of the perfect human Father with so much more than words can express.

Through Christ we are forgiven not chained to sin as a slave but free, free to gain the gift of eternal life.

St Paul puts it like this when he wrote to the churches in Galatia:

Galatians 4: 4 – 7

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Hymn: Abba Father

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiVrwVV3Liw

Prayer

Thank you Abba, for your love, for your forgiveness, Thank you for your son Jesus Christ our lord and saviour. Amen

May the love of the Father, the tenderness of the Son, and the strength of the Spirit empower you this day and always. Amen

Hymn: Father God I wonder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPT8tzdC_sw

Week beginning 18th February

Hymn: God of grace and glory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSOvpH6FgUE

Prayer

Lord creator God pour your spirit into our lives; may we feel the peace of your presence.

Lord, living God grant to us your wisdom and courage in our Christian witness.

Lord, Loving God may we not anger you, nor bring you shame, may we never use your name in vain. May we never fail others or fail you keep us free from temptation. Grant us wisdom and courage to ever serve you our only creator living Loving Lord Amen

HYMN: Who Can Sound The Depths of Sorrow 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VCX7bqKJo

Genesis 3:1 -24

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden  9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,“Cursed are you above all livestock   and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly   and you will eat dust  all the days of your life.15 And I will put enmity(deep rooted hatred) between you and the woman,  and between your offspring and hers; he will crush  your head,  and you will strike his heel.”16 To the woman he said,“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;   with painful labour you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband,   and he will rule over you.”17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’“Cursed is the ground because of you;  through painful toil you will eat food from it    all the days of your life.18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,   and you will eat the plants of the field.19 By the sweat of your brow   you will eat your food until you return to the ground,  since from it you were taken; for dust you are  and to dust you will return.” 20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Hymn: What a friend we have in Jesus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwi_qKVI8lQ

Since the Garden, God has been calling to us, “Where are you?”

Since the Garden, humans have been hiding in shame. Let’s stop hiding and bring our sins to light.

Prayer of Confession

Our God, you created the world and called it good.

You created man and woman in your image and called them very good.

But we have been deceived by half-truths and false promises.

We have tasted temptation and it is bitter in our mouths.

We thought our desire for forbidden fruit would bring us wisdom,

but it brought us only the curse of pain and death. Please cover us in your love.

Take away our sin. In the stillness we lay before you those things we have not done and should have done, the things we have left undone. the hurtful things we have said and done.

In your mercy, forgive us and restore our relationship with you, O Lord our God. Amen

Prayers of intercession

In February 2022 , when war in Ukraine began, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote a prayer for the country and its people:

A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

Archbishop Justin Welby. Archbishop Stephen Cottrell

Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith: receive the prayers we offer. 
We pray for Christians throughout the World, especially where there is suffering, danger  and persecution; Lord,  hear our prayer.

We pray for all the peoples of the world and their leaders; countries in crisis; those countries where there are conflicts, Countries affected by acts of terrorism. Countries ruled by corrupt and brutal leaders, Countries where people are starving. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for own leaders, at both National and Local level, those who administer our laws; the emergency services, all those who work in hospitals, care homes and the medical profession, all those who are caring for people who need help and friendship in their lives, We pray for those who have responsibility for the welfare of others.

We pray for our local community, for those who are sick, those who are suffering, those who grieve. We pray for the distressed, the lonely, the homeless, the unloved, the unemployed, We pray for those in need of a friend, those wanting someone to reach out to them with a caring and loving hand. We commend to your keeping, Father, ourselves and each other, our families, our neighbours, and our friends. Enable us by your Spirit to live in love for you and for one another. Help us all to reflect your love in the way we treat other people, so that your love spreads throughout the world.  Amen

In Deuteronomy chapter 8 Moses said from verse 1 to 3

1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Hymn: Lead us heavenly Father lead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpkEeXWtWg0

Matthew 4:1-11

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted  by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands,   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Hymn. Forty days and forty nights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N29ZnwU4LM

What sorts of things are we tempted by? When I was diagnosed with diabetics I was given a booklet of how to control it, there were things I can eat and the amounts, and the consequences of making my sugar levels spike or plummet. It is very tempting to eat the wrong things because they are sweet.

When a student was training for the priesthood the Bishop talked about temptation the student boosted that he was never tempted and he could always do the right thing. Later that term he was invited to the bishops house for tea a great spread had been laid out. The bishop explained that he had an important phone call to make but to tuck in with the instructions “you can eat anything on the table but do not lift the cover off the cheese cover in the middle”. The young man took a plate and filled it with food, but after fifteen minutes the bishop had still not returned, the dish in the middle of the table was causing him a problem, after another five minutes the student could not resist taking a peak he only lifted the lid a small amount and to his horror a mouse ran out from under it. At that very moment the bishop returned and smiled at the embarrassed youth then talked with him about Adam and Eve’s temptation of not eating the forbidden fruit we read the out come to that earlier, And Christ's temptation and how Jesus answered Satan. We must remember that the devil is very active today he will do every thing he can to stop you from following Jesus and worshipping God. Therefore seek Christ, let him into your heart. God loves you, You are forgiven through the grace of Christ. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit that he may live within you His power will prompt, comfort, and strengthen you. Each day walk with him and pray to him.

In doing so your faith in Him will grow. May God bless you with His love. Amen

And as Jesus taught his disciples we now join with our brothers and sisters through the world

in saying the Lords Prayer (this is the prayer we use in our Church but please use the version

you would usually use

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name;

thy Kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 4:12-17

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali 14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,  the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 16 the people living in darkness  have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Hymn. Seek the first the kingdom of God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsBpM9IcBts

Benediction

May the God of peace who raised Christ from the dead Strengthen your inner being for every good work. And may the blessing of God Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit Rest upon you and dwell within you This day and evermore. Amen.